Actually I was at an open mike nite, I don't play an upright, I do have a fretless precision that's about as close as I get to the big bass. Everything is original even the frets and believe me they are pretty worn. I just don't trust anyone to work on it. I bought in a store in Philadelphia in 1978-79. I don't know who had it made with the brass inlay. I just asked Alembic about it,maybe they will remember whose idea it was